The Feminist School

The Green Movement and Its Global Sigificance/Pravu Mazumdar

admin — 2010-09-08T09:31:00Z

Feminist school: Pravu Mazumdar studied physics in New Delhi and Munich and has a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Stuttgart, West Germany. He lives as a writer and teacher of German in Munich and teaches philosophy at the University of Stuttgart. His areas of work include art and philosophy, and his books are closely related to French Postmodernism, in particular the philosophy of Michel Foucault. Forthcoming is a book on terrorism and colonialism: Das Niemandsland der Kultur, Berlin: Matthes & Seitz, 2010 (October).

Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani's article “The Green Movement and the Myth of Shame of the Middle Class”* is rather instructive to an outsider unfamiliar with the intricacies of Iranian politics. Her analysis reveals the movement in its ‘essence' and pluralism as its political backbone: as the prime factor constituting its appeal to a modern mind. One understands, that pluralism for this movement is much more than a question of political correctness, moral superiority or tactical intelligence. In a deeper sense it seems to be inseparable from the very grain of the political vision and practical energy of this movement, supported as it is by so different political forces as women, workers, minorities. Strike off pluralism, and you have eliminated the style and spirit of this movement.

Ms Khorasani's analysis further reminds us that pluralism is essentially inseparable from a decentralisation of power and a non-violent bent of mind, evoking associations of Gandhi and Foucault. For in a concrete political context pluralism involves the mutual acceptance of multiple world-views united by one common and minimal goal. In the Gandhian movement Hindus, Moslems and Christians could accept their religious differences and unite under the banner of their common interest, which was swaraj or self-government, understood not only as a political demand, but, more essentially, as a style of living and thinking, which involved self-sufficiency, heightened consciousness regarding ones resources and potentialities and an “oceanic circle” of linkages. In a similar vein it seems that the Green Movement proposes much more than a mere political agenda. It proposes – just as Gandhi did – nothing less than a mode of social and spiritual existence. That is where the strength and undiminished relevance of Gandhi's movement lie. That is where the strength of the Green Movement lies.

The pluralism of the Green Movement, one understands, is also closely related to its organisational structure, which is not dictated by a centre or a central ideology, but rests essentially on communicative relations. It is well known, that these relations have been enabled not only on an instrumental level by latest digital technology, but also on the level of issues and ideals by the minimal common goal of civil rights in conformity with an existing constitutional framework and its potentiality for amendment. Power, as Foucault has repeatedly stated, is not something mystical issuing from a totalitarian centre, but something capable of strategically connecting things like institutions, architectures, bodies. It is something, which takes the form of (communicative) relations traversing individuals, their bodies, their verbal exchanges and their non-verbal practices. Ms Khorasani's article allows the reader to conclude that the strength of the Green Movement lies in a transparency engendered by its pluralism and enabled by a culture of communicative freedom as proposed time and again by Mousavi, consisting in a free exchange of experiences and thoughts between neighbours and collective practices of social reflection and enlightenment.

The most striking implication in Ms. Khorasani's reflections is the idea that this pluralism, which is responsible for the strength and tenacity of the Green Movement, stems from the role of the middle class. For there are only two possible ways, in which the middle class can participate in social movements. It can either function as the impotent centre of a society at war, vacillating between the upper and the working classes and earning thereby the contempt of both. Or it can function as a decentred and decentring “centre” of a society, creating the space necessary to represent the manifold interests of the classes, minorities, subcultures, individuals involved in the struggle. It is true, that such a movement cannot include in its agenda the totality of the problems and issues of all the groups involved, but only a set of minimal demands concerning civil liberties, the fulfilment of which would however be profitable to all. The middle class as a decentred “centre” of society is thus a space or social medium capable of transmitting the experience that political practice can function as a partial methodology that no longer intends an ultimate and total solution. The minimal solution proposed by such a practice is no longer to be judged as a betrayal of totalitarian ideals or as a contemptible deflection from a revolutionary programme, but rather as a partial yet real step towards attainment of a better life.

To sum up: the non-violence inherent in the pluralism of the Green Movement involves an active acceptance of difference incarnated in organisational structures reminiscent of Wittgenstein's “family resemblance” and transmitted along lines of communication connecting all those who are prepared to cooperate rather than confront each other in realising minimal goals of improvement of the common lot. This is where the Green Movement, to say the least, appears an impressive experiment. Even though the outcome of this experiment is uncertain, even though it faces severe challenges from within and without, it can already be seen to have brought things into motion.

Considering the global nature of the economic and ecological issues challenging humankind today, the Green Movement with its cooperative rather than confrontational style offers a paradigm for political action, which is inspiring for people in other parts of the world involved in struggles for changes necessary to the ultimate survival of our global community. The significance of this movement can only be fathomed when it is taken in its universal intent: not only as a form of political action, but beyond that as a thought process of considerable relevance to contemporary emancipatory aspirations.

* - "The Green Movement and the Myth of Shame of the Middle Class" in English:

http://www.iranianfeministschool.org/english/spip.php?article340

Source in Persian:

http://iranianfeministschool.org/spip.php?article3282

No news from Nasrin Sotoudeh. After attending the court hearing in Evin prison

admin — 2010-09-04T15:04:28Z

Feminist School: Nasrin Sotoudeh a defending lawyer , women's right activist has not returned from attending a court hearing in Evin prison.

Last week Saturday 29th of August 2010 the security forces entered her office and her home at the same time and raided her personal files and belongings and handed a notice of attending a court hearing session based in the notorious Evin prison. Hence Nasrin Sotoudeh attended the court hearing with her lawyer Nasim Ghanvi, which elaborated that, when in the court, Nasim Ghanvi was not allowed to represent her client and was also told that she was not allowed to remain during questioning, hence Nasrin Sotoudeh went to court hearing on her own, as I have no news from her since then.

Reza Khandan, Nasrin's husband stated that “after hours of waiting for Nasrin I am trying to find out what is happening with Nasrin “I have been told that it not certain whether a warrant for her arrest has been issued or not ” Narins lawyer Nasim Ghavni stated that at such times according to the law the court can only issue whether she will be arrested or released on bail” as it stands nothing is certain of this situation. Nasim Ghavni elaborates that they will return tomorrow morning to peruse the matter and find out what the outcome is from the court”.

It has to be siad in 2008 Nasrin Sotoudeh was the award winner of the International Human Rights from Italian NGO The committee for the Intrnational Human Rights, Nasrin Sotoudeh who was one of funding members of the Campaign for one million signatuires and The Coalition of the Iranian Women's Movement for Viocing their demands in the Election and also had the directorship for the Support of the children and after years of disqualification from practicing as a lawyer was eventually allowed to practice and since then she has been practicing for free and defending the activists of the women's movement and the abused children under 18. Nasrin has published many papers on women's issues. Nasrin received her masters from the University of Shahid Beheshti and has 2 children.

You can find Some articles of Nasrin Sotoudeh in the following links:

Hanging of Juveniles Under the Age of 18 in Iran / Nasrin Sotoudeh

Execution of Minors and soghra's file/ Nasrin Sotoodeh

Nasrin Sotoudeh Summoned to Court,Her Office and Her Residence Have Been Raided

admin — 2010-09-01T13:30:00Z

Feminist school :Nasrin Sotoodeh, a lawyer and activist, said that she is expected to appear in court within the three days upon the received of a summon that was delivered to her following a raid on her home and office few days ago. The Summon indicated that she is charged with “cooperation and connivance against the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and making propaganda against the state.”

She denied this charges as unfunded, and called them sheer accusations, However she said depending on if summon has been issued lawfully or not, and upon the advices of her lawyers she would decide whether to appear in court or not.

This kind of attack to the offices of human rights activists and lawyers has not been unprecedented since the fraudulent election of June 2009. Abdolfattah Soltani and Mohammad Ali Dadkhah were among several lawyers and activists who spent months in prisons and still all kinds of pressures, and restrictions are imposed on them. Mohammad Oliaii is still in prison. Mohammad Seifzadeh is awaiting his trial on Sept 13. Khalil Bahramian was summoned to the court for investigation and Saleh Nikbakht is subject to a similar charge.

Sotoudeh considers all these arrests and summons as a regime strategy to pressure the lawyers and activists so that defending the political prisoners become impossible.

Stoodeh's office and her residence have been raided few times by the government security forces. The first time her office and home was raided when she was defending Arash Rahmani, in which not only her computer and mobile, but her husband's computers and her children's were all confiscated. They also confiscated many of her clients' files including files regarding to Shirin Ebadi. Indeed, she thinks that many of these harassments are geared to her relationship with Ebadi. The authorities had called her husband five months ago to advise her to stay out of Ebadi's case. She thinks that this recent summon is just a mean to intimidate her and to force her to quit her case.

She also objected to the fact that authorities access to her home and office has been under false pretence. They entered the building pretending they are postman, and then by lied to her husband that she is already in court under the investigation so they court search her property.

She said these are all false accusations and a cliché method used commonly for all.

She also added that with all these pressures imposed on the lawyer, little by little the notion of “defence” would become a passé and would be abolished from our judiciary system.

She said if this summon is issued lawfully, surly, I would appear in court. Today September 4th 2010 she attends the court with her lawyer Nasim Ghanavi.

Statement from the “Green Convergence of Women's Movement”, on the anniversary of Iran's Constitutional Revolution

admin — 2010-08-21T22:44:41Z

Feminist School – The 3rd session of the Green Activists of Women's Movement held in Tehran, coincided with the 104th anniversary of Iran's Constitutional Revolution. The session comprised of representatives of diverse tendencies and groups within the women's movement; included speeches on topics ranging from women's role in the Constitution to the more current issues such as the continued incarceration of political activists and their concern for the 17 prisoners on a hunger strike. Also a statement was issued for the occasion of this anniversary of the Constitutional Revolution; the details of which are as follows:

Statement from the “Green Convergence of Women's Movement”, on the anniversary of Iran's Constitutional Revolution

From the onset of the Constitutional movement though today, the challenging interaction between the women's movement and the social democratic movements, has played a vital role for women.

The history of Women's Movement shows that the level of women's influence on larger social movements, considering their strength and formation, as well as the influence of our slogans of ‘gender equality'; has engendered different views in public opinion. Women, while cooperating, for the most part, have demanded their rights from the inside and through these movements; although in the end, each movement has reaped different results, depending on the degree of power and the main foundation of its founder.

A cursory review of the last 100 years proves that the meaning of “people” inherent in the main slogan of the national democratic movements - focused on limiting the “absolute power” and increasing “power of the people” – has changed with time. Over the last century, women's fight, struggle and sacrifices have gradually deflated some of the heavy air of gender bias and male supremacy inherent in the meaning of “People”; to the extent that today women, as components of “People”, are able to partake in democratic movements. In fact, the advent of the Constitutional Movement, helped coin the first sparkles of terms such “Citizenship” and “Women's Membership” in the “People”. This is the reason why the Constitutional Movement holds such a special importance for the Women's Movement.

The Constitutional Movement was the gateway for women's independent entry into the society through the Education system. Women gained literacy rights as one of the main civil rights; followed by “assembly” and writing and publishing periodicals, which despite tensions between the conservatives and the progressives, became a reality. Nevertheless, when it comes to women's civil rights in the political arena, the majority of the progressives and even pockets of women join the conservatives in prohibition of women's right to vote.

Women's movement over the last one hundred years, has experienced many peaks and valleys, yet continues its steady and calm journey, alongside many progressive and feminist men. During the Constitutional Movement, women were only the subjects of tension between progressive and conservative men and it was up to men to decide whether or not women should be bestowed any kind of rights. But today, it is women who through their Green Movement stand as sources of inspiration and creators of democratic slogans and vital components of this movement.

From the days of the Constitutional Movement when Bibi khanoom, one of the founders of the Girls School in Iran, enclosed her head scarf with a letter written to the Parliament: “Either you save the Constitution or wear my scarf !!!”; to today's Green Movement where progressive and democratic men voluntarily wear women's head scarves in order to show the backward men, that they find no difference between themselves and the women. And from the days of the Constitutional Movement when women were forced to choose their representatives and spokespersons among men; to today's Green Democratic Movement, women's movement has achieved such legitimacy and gained such prominence so as to elevate its representatives to the heights of leadership within the Democratic Movement, and demanding its rights from an equal podium in the social and political arena. This movement has been on a long road replete with struggle and fight and sacrifices made by an enormous body of steadfast women of all groups and backgrounds: Teachers, Nurses, Secretaries, Homemakers, Journalists, Scholars, and, and…

We can say that the seeds of demanding equality and freedom planted over a century ago during the Constitutional Movement, today on one hand, through the efforts of civil rights and women's rights activists; and on the other through the social, political and economic changes, have grown into an influential and legitimate element in the society that absent the women, the word “People” bears no meaning; and as part of “gender awareness” [equal civil rights for equal genders], the seeds have turned into a subconscious gender neutral society and the forces opposing equality, not only within the Green Movement, but also within the government, have all but lost their last vestiges of legitimacy to the degree where they can only impose their anti-woman laws and regulations through violence.

But despite all this progress, there is a serious concern that any and all social progress is stopped and on a path of regression, as history has shown that at every juncture of major progress, the danger of returning to the past is made possible by resorting to violence and a ‘frozen atmosphere.” Our history and the world history shows that any time violence and war have become the means for settling disputes, be it locally or globally, first and foremost it is women who bear the brunt of the destructive outcome and all civil movements are pushed to the wayside.

Therefore, we the activists of the Green Convergence of Women's Movement, on this 104th anniversary of the Constitutional Revolution, in consideration of the experiences of our maternal ancestors during the Constitutional Revolution, by our large and diverse gathering here announce that with a focus on women's rights, we are committed to a collaborative, creative and effective partnership with other peaceful, non-violent, result oriented and democratic movements.

In consideration of the experiences of our grand mothers during the nationalization of oil, we are committing ourselves to a new meaning of nationalism that embraces modernity and internal multiplicity that can accept and reflect the equal presence and participation of all Iranians from every ethnicity, religion, language and gender, and one that will fully respect every cultural tradition and will not oppose modernity and cultural diversity.

In consideration of the experiences of our mothers during the revolution of 1357 (1979), we commit ourselves to the active participation of women of all persuasions and styles, in the public arena. And in opposition to all discriminatory laws, we commit to upholding and defense of women's equal rights and civil rights. In consideration of the experiences of our young girls who are anxiously awaiting a chance to participate in all economic, social and political areas of their country, but suffering from unemployment and the prospects of a bleak future and inability to partake in social or economic affairs and on the other hand surrounded by a host of social threats such as poverty, prostitution, suicide, and addiction; commit ourselves to the revival of their social and economic rights. Every day, a new excuse such as cutting women's working hours, is delivered in order to drive women out of the work force, and the economic arena; making their lives even more difficult, resulting in more inflation and unemployment and closure of industrial units and destruction of agriculture and increased social damages and lower standards for living and health of women and children.

In consideration of our sisters' experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, and other war ravaged nations, we commit to the path of non-violence on all levels of social, political, national arena and the illegitimating of war and violence in all international relations. We firmly believe that the cultivation of a culture of communication in the public arena, rather than a culture of elimination and animosity in settling disputes on a national level and international level, instead of polarizing the global atmosphere and making war and sanctions and saber rattling of nations can be the most effective and least costly way of resolving conflict and also women's and the nation's progress.

In consideration of our sisters' experiences on the global level, we declare a sisterhood with all women across the globe; who have been subjected to violence. We know… of the suffering of the Afghan women, the pain of the Palestinian women, the white and the colored freedom lover American women, the European, the African… We have felt with our skin and bone, the pain of all women in the world who are violated and killed for ideologies. Not for the war between Islam and the infidel, or the war of civilizations or religions, but they become victims of brutal powers that in order to prolong their reign of power, invent imaginary wars and create hate mongering ideologies made up of people's religious faith or non-religious beliefs and their economic hardship and poverty, which women and children are always the main victims of.

In conclusion, summoning our three decades of experience in our shared ideologies, campaigns, and gatherings of women's movement, most particularly the Green Convergence of Women's Movement, with an emphasis on the independence of the Women's Movement, and our demands for women's rights and dues at this historical juncture, we believe that the informed presence of social and civil movements such as the women's, students, teachers, ethnic groups, workers unions, journalists, youth, etc. in cooperation and solidarity with the Green Movement, not in order to unite all their views and beliefs and identities of all the activists of these groups and not meant to make them abandon their ideals and desires and methodologies. In fact, this Green unity is strengthened by its diversity and encourages multiplying of the groups which can serve as the most important element and the strongest fortress in stopping the dictatorship-making mechanisms and the uniformity of nations.

Undoubtedly, all these only reflect our very basic and broad overviews which portray our struggles and worries as well as, our dreams and commitments on this anniversary of the Constitutional Revolution that also symbolizes the growth of the women's movement in Iran. We are aware that today, not only there are various groups of women who are working hard with their limited means, to remedy our struggles, but also pockets of individual women who independently and on their own, are highly active in the movement; all focused on finding solutions and fulfilling a common dream, have created a strong but not centralized network of women in the nation. We here consider ourselves to be but a small part of this vast sea of a movement and the tireless network of women, some of which organized, some not, but all strong and determined. Despite all this, the ability and power of the Women's Movement with all its diversity and vastness, is still limited; but as they say dreaming for a young movement, such as ours, is a good thing, not something to be ashamed of.

Orig Article in Persian:

http://www.iranianfeministschool.org/spip.php?article5435

Targeting women as second sexes /Azadeh Davachi

admin — 2010-07-31T05:22:52Z

Feminist School:The recent Iran's presidential election has disclosed new policies of suppressing women by Iranian government and the fundamentalist's leaders. Although these kinds of suppressions have been practiced during last 30 years; these purposeful attacks lead to creating a new form of suppressions by religious leaders. During the recent years Islamic feminism paved a way for emerging new voices of women activities ; however this time and this form of suppression put much pressure on women activists than before , in a sense that all those accomplishments achieved by the feminist activists were gone through a radical changes. During this time and especially after the aftermath presidential disputes and protests, the government began to target women as motivated and activated oppositions who stood at the forefront of public protests. The fact is that Iranian women always have been forcefully marginalized by the state. The state remained as the main domain of suppression; which in effect put the question of women at the margins of all spheres of social, political and cultural life. However, women especially during the recent decades strived to come into public arena by proposing new grounds of women social and political debates, yet they face with the marginalization by the state that becomes more severe in recent years. In other words, feminism debates as the main basis of Iranian women's movement could encourage a majority of women in recent public protests. Women participated as active and motivated individuals during all protests. Due to all of these facts, the recent reactions of the government are to target women activists and their supporters. But the question will be raised here why do they target women this time? Is it related to the policy of marginalization which always has been imposed by the state upon women's activists?

As we have observed throughout these years the government and its security forces has made Political women activists to confess in jail by using sexual assaults and abuses. They always have been aware of the fact that proposing sexual desires outspokenly has been considered as taboos and have been prevalent in Iranian culture. They use this way to oblige any female convicts to get the privileges of confessing on the basis of whatever they have been accused of. In some cases, the security forces and plainclothes ask the convict to imagine sexual scenes, to remind them that they are inadvertently the victims of their power; in other words power is being practiced on female convicts by employing various means of sexual assaults and harassments. In some other cases, another policy has been utilized by those commissioners. The male convicts were obliged to confess whatever has been dictated to them by threatening the convict in a way that if they are not acquiescent to confess on what have been asked for; their female members of their family will be exposed to sexual harassments. In other terms, they use this way to overbear them for better confessions. Yet there are some cases of sexual harassments and assaults that always have been used by the state to estrange the activists from their own rights and positions. Nevertheless, these are the means of power which have been practiced by the security forces and plainclothes to make every convict to confess in accordance with their desires. These examples of targeting women as second sexes and by utilizing sexual assaults do not end up here. In one of TV show which was shown a few weeks ago, Shirin Ebadi's husband (Javad Tavasolian) confessed in the governmental TV about the fault behaviors of his wife (Shirin Ebadi) in front of millions of people. In this show the state targeted women as the main reason of social and cultural disorders. Shirin Ebadi's husband confessed that he never had a good relationship with his wife. And he was obliged to sign a form and to promise his wife that they are equal in their mutual life. Then Mr. Tavasolian claimed that he had never agreed with his wife's social and political activities there has always been some sort of obligation in their private relationship. Making propaganda from the individual's private life has never been advised by any religion and in any tradition. It's an obscure policy of the state to blemish women activists' respectability that are not currently living in Iran and always have been attended as the main resistance to the state. Another thing that happened in relation to targeting women's activities is that the state put pressures on women's clothing by dismissing women who do not follow Islamic dress codes. Moreover there are patrol guards around Tehran and some other major cities; they arrest those women who are according to their claim known as “Bad hejab” or “Mal-veil”. In this situation these guards fine women who are not well covered, in some other cases they send them the fine papers. As we have observed during this recent year the suppression of women took another aspect. Women are being more suppressed than before and most women activists were detained. But the question here is that how these behaviors will find their justification in our religion? By putting sexual assaults and sexual harassments as the means of punishments, by making these artificial confessions against the women activists and by targeting their private life and bringing into the public arena are women really being suppressed? The experiences during the last thirty years revealed the fact that women have always being continuing their resistance towards these suppressions. it's worth noting that the resistance of Iranian women is now going on to enter in a new theoretical framework where they now neutralize the polices and the efforts of fundamentalists on marginalizing women's presence in various public spheres. They now are more determined than before to possess a framework for their further resistance. As it seems, this time the main focus of fundamentalists are women themselves which carries out through suppressing women as the main potential powers. Meantime they will find the chance to suppress more population and more protests in the current situation. The fact is that by doing such behaviors the feminist movement will be much determined to focus its main debates on liberating women both as social and cultural individuals. As women activists we have to stand against the attacks of fundamentalism which is done by various policies toward women activists. Thus the women's movement will not stop in any case; rather it has to focus its power on strengthening its goals. These kinds of behaviors only will limit the actions of the state and will empower the energies and potential forces of thousands women who are now much more willing to object to their situation. They will make women to become more united in order to stand against the fundamentalists' aims and in near future these coalitions and supporting will spell out a new form of civil and individual's democracy and equality demands for all Iranian women activists.

The Feminist School's Website was Filtered Again

admin — 2010-07-11T19:06:00Z

Feminist School:The Feminist School's website was filtered again on July 9th 2010 for the 15th time. The last time that the site was filtered was two months ago but sadly yesterday it was filtered again on July 9th 2010 .

Our new address is :http://www.iranianfeministschool.org/english

Narges Mohammadi,Women and Human Rights Activist, was Hospitalised after being Released from Prison

admin — 2010-07-05T18:56:00Z

Feminist School:Narges Mohammadi,women and human rights activist, was hospitalised after being released from prison on bail on July 3rd due to her poor physical condition.

At the time she was suffering from very severe physical conditions which resulted to her being hospitaised Since her release she has contracted temprorely muscle paralysis where she is unable to speak.

According to her husband, Taghi Rahmani, her physical problem has begun in the prison and continued up to now. Despite several tests, doctors still have not found out the cause of her local paralysis in her muscles, arms and legs.

Mohammadi, who won the international award of “Alexander Langer foundation” in 2009, was arrested on 11th of June. On night of the arrest the security officials entered Narges Mohammadi and Taghi Rahmani's home and after two hours inspection arrested Narges Mohammadi. They arrested her while her twin children were witnessing her arrest.

Source in Persian :http://www.feministschool.com/spip.php?article5221

On the First Anniversary of the 12th of June Presidential Election, Still 30 Women are in the Prison

admin — 2010-06-23T18:55:40Z

Feminist School: After nearly one year past from the June 12th presidential election, the day that took many lives, the day that the Green movement was born.

Women who were killed and many women who were imprisoned, numbers are unknown because of discrepancies in information but with the number of women whom we know are in prison, shows that the numbers are large.

one year has passed from Iranian presidential electoral on June 12th 2009.Number of women in prison have received heavy sentences such as hanging, women such as Shirin Alamhoolie. Heavy sentences for women who are not even in prison but are under imminent threat that will be returned to prisons for serving their full sentences such as 6 years imprisonment and 74 lashes for Sara Tavasoli or the 3 year conditional sentence for Azar Mansouri or 2 years imprisonment as well $300. Fine for Haleh Sahabi.

A court hearing for women who are freed with bail( such as Jila Baniyaghoub, Zohre Tonekaboni and many others) are concerned that they might receive much heavier and increased sentences.

Suspended from studying, otherwise know as students with stars who is also suspended from the university, such as Leyla Sehat, Atefeh Rangriz ,Taha Valizadeh, Shahla Ebrahimi , Astreh Moloudi, Samira Chelani and Maryam Zare'ee .

Suspension from working is another difficulty caused for women by the regime, women such as Narges Mohamadi , Saba Vasefi and Samira sadri ,Who are not allowed to work.

Threatening phone calls to women is also part of the women activists daily life, women such as Saba Vasefi, Zahra Mojaradi who keep receiving threatening phone calls.

Narges Mohammadi ,the deputy of Human Rights Defenders Association, Arrested from her home after a raid by government security forces

Narges Mohammadi was arrested on June 10th 2010 by security forces raiding her home . Ms Mohammadi has 2 children, who need her full time attention. Narges Mohammadi is a human rights activist, women rights activist , journalist, deputy and spokeswoman of human rights' defenders association and head of executive committee of Iranian Peace council. she was fired from her job because of her cooperation with the association on December 2009. scientific committee of Italian foundation ''Alexander Langen'' has awarded her the international prize of Alexander Langen in 2009.

Azam Veysameh

Azam Veysameh was arrested at midnight of June 10th 2010 by security forces. Transferred directly the notorious Evin prison . The reason of her arrest is not clear yet , before this she was banned from entering the parliament, she is one of the most experienced parliamentary journalist and has been working for the Parliament news ,the main organ of the reformist MPs. It is common knowledge that her arrest by the government, on the first anniversary of presidential electoral is to exert pressures on the reformist media.

Mahboubeh Khansari was arrested

Mahboubeh Khansari was arrested on June 10th 2010 she has worked for different newspapers such as Kalameh sabz,Ham Mihan,Shargh and also for cultural heritage news agency, reason of her arrest is not clear. Security officials arrested her in her home after inspecting her office and confiscating her computer mobile phone and some of her personal belongings.they had told her family that they would received a call after 48 hours about her whereabouts .she has been working for around 10 years in different newspapers and news agencies.

Sara Mahboubi was Arrested

Sara Mahboubi ,Bahayi student who has been banned from studying, was arrested .Security officials visited her home at June 19 ,2010 to arrest her, however at that time she was not in so they searched her home and confiscated two computers, some books, CDs and personal photos .it is said that her arrest could be, because of her activities for campaigning for students who are banned from studying.

Shirin Firouzi , Akbar Karami's wife: Arrested

Shirin Firouzi , Dr. Akbar Karami's wife who has been imprisoned because of her political activities, has been interrogated regarding her husband's activities. Her husband Dr Karami is infact imprisoned in Qom and has been sentenced to 3 years on alleged charges of propagating against the regime and insult to the leader. It is also known that other charges such as against Dr Karami are in the pipe line.

Hamideh Farajzadeh (Pinar)was arrested on May 25th 2010

Hamideh farajzadeh (pinar)well known Azeri Woman Activist was arrested on May 25th 2010 in Urmia . According to the reports security officials arrested her while she was leaving her father's home and then they searched the home and confiscated all her books , CDs and any paper which was written in her own native language. they informed her family that she would be transferred to Tabriz and wouldn't be released for at least a week. Hamideh Farajzedeh graduated from Iran Medical Science university and is one of the ex- student activists and also a women rights activist.

Shiva Nazarahari Still Waiting for the Courts Decision

Shiva Nazarahari was one of the many who were arrested in a first wave of massive arrest of political and journalist activists. Within 2 days after the election which she was released on bail of $200,000. She is a founding member and spokeswoman of committee of human rights reporters.

She was arrested for the second time last year, whilst on her way to Qom for attending Ayatollah Montazeri's funeral . Mrs.Kariman , her mother said :they told us that both her cases will be investigated in one court but still no news as yet.

Bahareh Hedayat:Sentenced to nine years and a half years

Bahareh Hedayad , member of central council of Tahkim Vahdat, was sentenced to nine and a half years of imprisoned. she was arrested on the December 30th 2009 after receiving her sentence she has been summoned to the revolutionary court branch no.4 for her previous arrest on July 9th 2007.

Mahboubeh Karami was arrested on March 2nd 2010

On March 2nd 2010 security officials went to Mahboubeh Karami's home with inspection and arrest warrant, and after inspection her and her brother's personal belongings were confiscated. Mahboubeh had been under pressure for confessing and interviewing in TV and fortunately after months she has been transferred to the general ward of Evin prison, however her situation is a cause for concern.

Mahdiyeh Golrou

Mahdiyeh Golrou and her husband Vahid Lalipour were arrested on November 3, 2009 in their home and transferred to Evin prison. Her husband who is not a political activists was released last March. Mahadiyeh Golrou , student activist and a member of education right council was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months imprisonment on April 4th 2010. The judge agreed to her release on bail at the amount of $700,000 but her family can't afford it. she had been sentenced to 1 year of suspended imprisonment for another case which had been accused for propaganda against the state and interview with foreigners media.

Hengameh Shahidi has been in prison since February 25,2010

Hengameh Shahidi , journalist and social activist , was arrested again on february 25. However she had been arrested after massive protests against election results for the first time and had been released on bail on November 1st 2009. at the amount of $90,000 and after that her 6 years of imprisonment was confirmed by the provisional court and she was sent back to the prison again. she was attacked by an addict prisoner in women's ward on May 29, 2010.

Laleh Hasanpour still in prison after the payment of $100,000 Bail

Laleh was arrested on March 16,2010 . According to reports Laleh's family were told once the bail is paid, she will be released but Laleh is still in prison.

Kobra Zaghedoust was arrested on funeral of martyrs and is still in prison

Kobra is still in prison, even though her lawyers have informed the courts that the alleged accusation by the court is addressed to her husband and not her. Her lawyers have declared that the client has not had any political or social activity and it is unknown why she has been arrested.

Somayeh Ojaghlou was arrested on March 4,2010

Somayeh Ojaghlou, human rights activist, was arrested on March 4,2010 in Isfahan. According to the last news which was published in March, she has called her family just once from an unknown place in Tehran.

Niloufar Hashemi azar , student of Tehran university, was arrested on Ashura ( December 27)

Niloufar was arrested with her mother Shahrzad Nasiri in Ashura her mother released after a while but Niloufar was transferred to Evin prison.

Raziyeh Alami has arrested since March 4,2010

Raziyeh Alami: Once a human rights activists in the past, was arrested on March 4th and accused of propaganda against the state .

Sama Bahmani :

Sama Bahmani , human rights activist,was arrested while she she was on her way to Mahabad in a taxi by security officials then on March 29,2010 sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment for propaganda against the state and being member of Iranian human rights activists . Sama Bahmani from Bandar Abbas was also arrested with her husband and was sentenced to 3 years of suspended prison for trying to prepare some reports about Kurdistan and also in supporting of Farzad Kamangar.

Nafiseh Mojtahedi has been in prison since March

Nafiseh Mojtahedi and her husband , human rights activists, during the mass arrests, they are still in prison in an unclear situation. They were allowed to speak to their child for a very short time.

Atefeh Nabavi:

Atefeh nabavi was arrested with her cousin Ziaodin Nabavi on June 15,2009 . Atefeh Nabavi was transferred to ward 209 of Evin prison and after 95 days and then transferred to general ward. She was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment.

Sama Nourani

Sama Nourani was arrested on March 3rd 2010 .it was reported on April 8th 2010 that she has been under pressure to accept accusations in TV documenteries.

Zeynab Jalaliyan: sentenced to death

A Kurdish woman activist sentenced to death. Zeynab will remain in Evin prison till the sentence is carried out. According to reports she was under pressure to confess and accept accusations for participating in TV programs. She has refused to false confessions and stated: she has not committed any crimes and she wouldn't confess.

Rozita Vaseghi in prison

Rozita Vaseghi was arrested on March 15 and it was reported that she was under pressure and then she was transferred to Mashad central prison.

Zahra Jabbari was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment

Zahra Jabbari, 36 married with one child ,was arrested on September 18th 2009 .

Masoumeh Yavari:

Masoumeh Yavari ,House wife, was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment in Rajaeeshahr prison. she was accused to Moharebeh (war against god). The prosecutor demanded death penalty for her . she has 2 children, aged 4 and 11 and her husband has been a political prisoners in the 80s.

Maryam Akbari Monfared in prison

Maryam Akbari Monfared is one of the prisoners who were arrested on Ashura December 31 2009, transferred to Evin prison and was accused to Moharebeh (war against god), she was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. She has three children and youngest one is 5.

Parvin Javadzadeh: In prison since Ashura

Parvin Javadzadeh is one of the women prisoners in Evin prison. It is reported that she is in a bad conditions, Javadzaded 22 ,was arrested on Ashura in street and her situation is unclear. she is the youngest prisoner in women's ward and she has been in solitary confinement for the first three months of her arrest, she was abused physically and mentally according to the news her sentence is muharebeh . her case was sent to branch 15 of revolution court.

Sahar Ghaseminezhad is in prison since February 4,2010

Sahar Ghaseminezhad was arrested on February 4. Security officials arrested her in her own home and confiscated her belongings such as her personal computer, books. Her father was executed in 1980s as a political activist but she has not involved in any political activities

Fatemeh Khoramjou is in prison since January 7

Fatemeh Khoramjou was arrested on January 7 ,2010. she is accused of contact with foreign elements. On May 23 she had a meeting with prosecutor, but no more is news has been forthcoming.

Mahfarid Mansourian environmental activist was arrested

Mahfarid Mansourian was arrested on february 8 2010 in her own home, she was shown an arrest warrant but not specifically for her, her house was searched and belongings were confiscated, Mahfarid is 55 years old and was a political prisoner during the 80s.

Zahra Bahrami one of the Ashura detainees

Zahra bahrami 45 was arrested in Ashura and since then she has been kept in ward no.209. Her family has no news of her situation for some months and as yet they are not allowed to visit her. Zahra Bahrami has dual citizen ship residing in Holand and was visiting he family in Iran.

Ozra Ghazi Mir Saeed is in prison since June 20,2009

she was arrested on June 20 ,and was accused to moharebeh and then sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment . she is in Evin prison

Niloufar Lalipour , poet and journalist was arrested on February 2nd

Lari was in charge of poem page of the Chelcheragh newspaper and mostly have written about religious poems and their roots in ancient Persia. according to her friends she has not had any political activities and she just publicized for Mousavi during the election.

Motahareh Bahrami

Motahareh Bahrami is one of the detainees of Asura who was sentenced to death at first and then her sentence was changed to jail . she was arrested in ashura with her husband and his friend , her son and his friend. she was accused to have relation with Mujaheddin Khalgh organization and her sentence was changed in provisional court but Mohsen and mehdi Daneshvar (her husband and her son) who were arrested with her were sentenced to death.

Reyhaneh Hajebrahim

Reyhane Hajebrahim was arrested with Motahareh bahrami she was sentenced to death at first but after that her verdict was changed to jail.

Aliyeh Eghdamdoost is in prison since January 2008

she was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment because of attending in women assembly against discriminatory laws in June 12,2005 in Hafte Tir sq. she was transferred to Evin prison on January 2008.she was sentenced to solitary confinement because she had read the history of 8th of March in prison for other women.

Ronak Safarzadeh

Ronak Safarzadeh was arrested on 2007 and sentenced to 6 years and 7 months she is in Sanandaj prison .

Shabnam Madadzadeh

Shabnam Madadzadeh in prison since March 2008. Shabnam was arrested because she was the first deputy in the council of Tahkim Vahdat, Tehran branch. She spend 70 days in solitary confinement, even though the courts have issued her release but the security forces have refused to release her. Shabnam and her brother were both sentenced to 5 years in exile to Rajayishahr.

Zeynab Bayazidi

Zeynab was arrested in the Kurdish city fo Mahabad by the security forces and was sentence to 4 years, she was charged with propagating against the Islamic republic and trying to leave the country illegally.

Sahba Rezvani

Memeber of the Bahaie sect, has been imprisoned for one year and been transferred from Semnan to Tehran. The reports indicate that his health is deteriorating and needs medical attention by independent doctors as the doctors in Evin prison are not treating her properly.

Source in Persian :http://www.feministschool.com/spip.php?article4968

The Iranian Women's Quest for Equality: History, Strategies, & Demands

admin — 2010-06-10T15:04:56Z

History of Iranian Women's Movement

The women's rights movement in Iran started over 100 years ago. The first voices for women's rights in Iran were heard in 1900's, during the constitutional revolution, when women engaged in underground political participation during the revolution in an effort to advocate women's rights to share the social space. At first, they had basic demands, such as right to education, because they believed that through education the conditions would improve for women. Soon the formation of NGOs (such as the Association for Freedom and the Women's Secret Union) followed and the women actually became strong enough to establish the first primary schools for girls in 1907. After these primary steps, there was a big wave of publications and periodicals written by women for women. Many of these pieces expressed the dissatisfaction women felt regarding their social, cultural, and political limitations, leading them to call for change. Since then, the Iranian Women's Rights Movement has experienced many ups and downs.

Following Reza Shah coming to power in 1926, two years later, in 1928 Majlis ratified the new dress code for men, particularly for all public servants. In 1931, for the first time, Majlis approved a new civil code that gave women the right to file for divorce under certain conditions, despite the fact that family law remained within the construct of Sharia law, and the marriage age remained set at 15 for girls and 18 for boys. In 1936, unveiling became compulsory. At the time of Reza Shah's fall, and the rise of democratic movement, independent women-based organizations were formed. More women-based organizations were formed during the 1940's and early 50's to advance the position of women in society, also to strongly criticize polygamy. In 1962, women were given the right to vote and to be elected. In 1968, the Family Protection Act was ratified, and as a result divorce cases was referred to family courts, limitations were placed on polygamy, and the written consent of the first wife became a requirement (a piece of law which is currently being challenged by Ahmadinejad's government, which intend to reverse this law). Also, the legal age for marriage for girls was raised to 18 years. In 1975, women gained the rights for guardianship for their children after their husbands' deaths. During the 1970's the discourse of the role and position of women at home and in society moved from the margin to the center of the agenda, with many religious scholars defining and redefining the position of women within the Islamic framework. By 1978, 33% of university students were female, and 2 million women were working in the formal sector of economy.

Women were present in many aspects of the movement during the rise of people's movement in 1978 that led to 1979 revolution in Iran. Shortly after the establishment of Islamic Republic in January of 1979, the wave of restrictions imposed on women started; the first move was the enforcement of compulsory Hijab; later in March 1979 women were barred from serving as judges, and in April the Family Protection Law was abolished. Women organized a mass demonstration to oppose these discriminatory laws on March 8th; it did not receive much support and solidarity from the forces in the democratic movement in Iran. During the short lived “Spring of Freedom” tens of women magazines were published and many women organizations established.

The 1979 revolution, which led to many civil, legal, and cultural changes, despite the many cases which worsen the conditions for women, it led to higher presence of women in the public sphere because the new Islamic society was deemed safe enough for women from conservative and religious families to leave home, get educated and join the workforce. This was huge as today over 60% of university students are women. Meanwhile, the new legislations after the revolution, except for the right for women to vote, were abolished, moving backwards the small accomplishments women had achieved in the areas of legal age, divorce, temporary marriage laws and custody.

The new wave of the Iranian Women's Movement started about ten years ago in the reform era and during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami. Various groups were formed and project plans were drawn, including the latest and globally acknowledged effort, the One Million Signatures Campaign. During the 1979 revolution, women were physically present and participated actively in the revolution and demonstration, but in the 2009 demonstrations, they took part in a mixed gender demonstration (in contrast to 1979 during which women and men were separated). This time, women were not only physically present but also were out there with gender analysis and specific demands, specifically 1) Demanding candidates to take a stand on women's issues, 2)Revising certain articles of constitution that lead to or promote gender inequality, and 3) Asking that Iran joins the Coalition of Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Methods Used by Women Activists in Iran

Horizontal working: In different women's groups and organizations, activists frequently put the hierarchical ways, behaviors, thinking, and practices to the test. It has been observed that many were practicing what it is being challenged. Exercise of power can be done on the basis of age, experiences, education level, urban and middle class position, and so on. That is why workshops and group discussions are needed in order to discuss these issues constantly.

Decentralization of power: Overlapping of experiences and decentralization of power always come together. By advocating for shared responsibilities activists attempt to overlap resources, knowledge and experiences. There are two intentions: 1) We help each other to grow and gain new skills and 2) We will reduce our weakness, and reliance on a few individuals that may not be always available in light of immense state pressure and unsecured society. Consciousness raising: Face to face meetings with women and men from different groups, listening to the general public, while providing information, promoting public interaction, were all methods that not only challenge the legal system, but also help confront people and their cultural patriarchal values on a daily basis.

These three characteristics; challenging the hierarchical way of working, meeting people face to face, and consciousness raising, forces the movement not only to demand equal treatment from the law or government, but also to challenge personal behaviors and try to practice equal treatment in the everyday encounters. In addition, by documentation, writing, interviewing, women activities are highlighted.

Discriminatory Laws Targeted by Women's Rights Activists

There are many other discriminatory laws in Iran's legal system. In the Iranian constitution, a woman is only recognized as a citizen once she is a mother (married) and generally treated as a second class citizen, therefore she has no standing as an independent person in any law derived from the constitution.

I. Family law: Divorce, Marriage, Inheritance, Child Custody, Number of the partners.

Divorce: A man can divorce his wife whenever he pleases. If it can be stipulated that the husband has married another wife or absents him self during a certain period, or discontinues the payment of cost of maintenance, or attempts the life of his wife or treats her so harshly that their life together becomes unbearable, or he is certified as an drug addict, then the wife has the power, which she can also transfer to a third party by power of attorney to obtain a divorce herself after establishing in the court the fact that one of the foregoing alternatives has occurred and after the issue of a final judgment to that effect.

Marriage: With the court's permission, a father can marry his daughter off, even before the age of 13, to a 70 year old man. The cost of maintenance (including dwelling, clothing, food, furniture) of the wife is at the charge of the husband in permanent marriages. This law also serves as a guide to alimony settlement after divorce. If the wife refuses to fulfill her duties as a wife without legitimate excuse, she will not be entitled to the cost of maintenance.

Inheritance: After the death of the father and mother, sons receive two times as much in inheritance as daughters. If the father and mother of the deceased are both alive and there are no spouses or children, the mother takes one- third and the father two-thirds of the inheritance. If siblings are the only heirs, the share of a male will be twice that of a female. The husband takes inheritance from the whole of the effects of the wife; but the wife takes only from the following effects: any kind of movable property and only from the price of the building and trees but not the ownership of such properties or land even if the spouse has indicated otherwise in his will.

Child Custody/Guardianship: A minor child is under the guardianship of his or her father or paternal grandfather or in their absence the court (never the natural mother). This means the mother of a child will neither be able to sign on behalf of a child if medical care/surgery is needed, nor can the mother ever be the legal financial representative of her child – even if the father of the child has requested in his will. A mother cannot open any account in her child's name, besides a loan account, or buy a house for her child without her husband's signature.

Number of partners: Men are allowed to have multiple wives; it means a man can have 4 aghdi (permanently married) wives and infinite sighehi (temporarily married) wives. This law is said to follow Sharia's guidelines.

II. Criminal law: Age of Criminal Responsibility, Compulsory Dress Code (hejab), Diyeh (Blood Money), Laws that support honor killings

Age of criminal responsibility: The age of criminal responsibility for girls is 9 lunar years (8 years and nine months) and for boys is 15 lunar years (14 years and 6 months). Thus if a 9-year-old girl commits a crime, she will be treated as an adult and all the penal laws (even execution) will be applicable to her.

Compulsory Dress Code (hejab): All women, regardless of the religion practiced, are required to follow a strict Islamic dress code that requires covering all strands of hair (in some public places with black chador), loose clothing that hides their shape, and only exposing the roundness of their face, their hands below the wrist, and their feet below the ankle.

Diyeh/Blood Money: In Iranian law, a woman's life is considered to be worth half that of a man. For example, if a brother and sister are hit by a car on the street, and both have their legs broken, the compensation that the brother receives is double that of his sister's. This law was changed in 2008 in regards to compensation from insurance companies, which now requires insurance companies to pay evenly regardless of gender.

Laws that support honor killings: The law that gives a man permission to kill his wife without any punishment whenever he sees her in bed with another man. This law has allowed men (such as a father) to kill women (such as the daughter) based solely on suspicion of “indecent” behavior.

III. Civil law: Citizenship, Marriage (satisfying the condition of the “father's consent”), Right to Travel, Right to choose place of employment and education, Bearing Witness

Citizenship/Nationality: The following persons are considered to be Iranian subjects: those born Iran or outside of Iran whose fathers are Iranian. The citizenship of a woman does not transfer to her child even if the child is born inside of Iran but to a non-Iranian father (i.e. to an Afghani father).

Father's consent for marriage: At any age and any social or educational standing, women are required to provide written consent from their father in order to get married.

Right to Travel: At any age, and at any social or educational standing, women are required to provide written consent from their husbands in order to cross Iran's borders. The husband can revoke this right at will and without notice to his wife (a notice submitted to the immigration office is enough).

Right to Employment/Education: A father or a husband, at will, can ask that the employment of his wife or daughter be terminated or enrollment in school be cancelled. A recent law requires the written consent of the father or the husband, if the daughter or the wife wants to study in an educational institution that is outside of her home town.

Bearing Witness: The testimonies of two women are equal to of one man. There are some crimes women can not testify to, these include: sodomy, homosexuality, and prostitution.

IV. Other Discriminatory Laws:

1-The condition “Rajal-e siyaasi” – which has been interpreted as “man of politics” to date – appears in the conditions for becoming President. This means that a woman cannot become the country's president.

2-Social Security laws Even though women pay the same amount of money for insurance as men do, their children can not benefit from their retirement pension or health insurance. This means that a mother can not provide any sort of ease for her children after her death.

3-Stoning is the frightening punishment – prescribed by the law to those who commit adultery. This punishment is usually only performed on women, as the man can claim having a temporary marriage (sigheh) with the woman who took part in the relationship (provided she was single).

Almost every spring time, and especially this year at the eve of the anniversary of the disputed presidential election of 2009 (1388), the pressure on women has increased, including tighter restriction regarding Hijab – a tactic used by government to put up a show of power, contaminate the minds of the public by suggesting that improper hejab is routed in evil practices and sign of indecency of women.

Various Focus Adopted by Iranian Women's Rights Groups

1- The governmental organizations focus on educating the public on the current law with out criticism. They do not address the extended public violence that women face everyday on the streets. Most of these groups are groups who will follow the law as is and will not challenge it to change.

2-Religious and humanitarian based groups that are focused on providing shelter to abused women, educating women on health and family planning, provide networking opportunity; promote acquiring new skill sets and finding source of income.

3-Independent and educated women aiming to educate and inform other women on the content of the law in order to help each and every woman develop individual backup plans. For instance, lawyers such as Shirin Ebadi, Mehrangiz Kar, and others, have written many books about these issues.

Focus on changing the laws by raising awareness, mobilizing grassroots activists and demand change to the dominant structures. This led to the birth of the One Million Signatures Campaign.

Slogan/Demands: * Women's Rights = Human Rights

* Iran Must Join CEDAW

* Stop All Forms of Social Violence

* Ratify the Constitution, Eliminate Discrimination

* Equal Opportunity for Women

* Women, Half the Nation, Less than Half the Rights

* Gender Equality & Freedom for Iran

Statement by ‘Women Solidarity Committee against Social Violence'

admin — 2010-05-27T17:20:08Z

Feminist School :The following statement is a summary of the first declaration of women solidarity committee against social violance which had been issued by women's rights activists on December 18th 2009:

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With deliberation, spread of violence in the society particularly after the recent incidence has raised many concerns in the country. These concerns amongst women are ever greater because Iranian women have suffered political, social and economical violence for centuries, hence why women are united in standing against violence of any shape or form from any side. From the outset of the recent struggle by people for democracy, women with their populated groups were at the heart of the Green movement and made their presence felt in the street demonstrations with the rest of the participants in the movement and at times took the brunt of the violence from the authorities. Violence that women have been enduring in their social and private lives reinforced itself as a structured political violence, to create equilibrium for the power players to control the mass objections.

Reinforced violence against women by way of implementing more discriminatory policies

Escalation of violence against the legal and peaceful organisations, some in the authority that should defend the rights of these organisations are acting in reverse and are threatening the entities of these democratic organisations.

Escalation in issuing subpoenas, threats, sackings, suspension and depravation from studying and travelling abroad.

Escalation of arrests and violence against detainees and imprisoned

Escalation of discourse of violence in the media in the society

Escalation of violence against free thinkers and nullification of activists from all spheres of the movement

In situation full of violence, women have relied on their experience of different campaigns such as Campaign for one million signatures, Anti stoning campaign and different and diverse organisations such as Human Rights, Peace and Mothers for Peace have strategically worked against violence. Women have realised that violence can always reproduce itself in different domains, starting from political violence then social violence and eventually ends up as family violence; hence women try to educate and define what violence is and how it can be eliminated.

Until the regime does not stop its bipolar values (deserts/futile) (friend/enemy) (good/bad) which makes violence imbedded in physical violence and elimination, will continually reproduce itself in the society as a whole, hence the starting point is to avoid bipolarity of the regimes values. Violence breads violence and as such women were against violence even

When -the regime was willingly and carelessly using violence to disperse people (street demonstrators).

When – the regime was arresting in vast numbers women where encouraging against a violent reaction by the people.

When – the bereaved mothers instead of mourning where demanding justice by representation and court proceedings

When women came out in support of the prisoners without any exceptions and broke the stereotypical resistance in prisons from individual to human and social.

Eventually the women's logical interaction and the women's movement played an active role against violence and brought about a national movement which enforced itself within the Green movement. As such the common cause, the uniting factor between women's movement and the Green movement is the ‘anti violence' hence we have formed the ‘women solidarity committee against social violence' in order to place this common and very important factor structurally into Women and Green movement. We are adamant on our dependency on forces with proven track records and Iranian women's grit to work towards an open and humane ways of conversing together so we can have that bridge for transfer of information and education. It is our belief that with the potential that women's movement has in the field of working together democratically and peacefully with Human rights, Peace and women organisations, we can move forward and bring about the diversity that is much needed.

We in the ‘women solidarity committee against social violence' believe that by transparent public discussions can stop the bipolarisation of the society and the gap between different socio-political groups can be reduced to everyone's benefit and hence have the ability to begin the process of elimination of violence. It is our belief that the less we converse the chances of transition to democracy of our society would reduce. It is such that we have gather together to bring about a mass solidarity against violence. It is our intention to expand on the commonalities of all forces and classes in the country, to make sure all and different voices are heard.

‘Women solidarity committee against social violence' Organisations.

Groups :

The Feminist School

Some Members of Women's Field

Some Members of Mothers for Peace

Focus on Iranian Women

The Committee of Human Rights Reporters

Some Members of Mourning Mothers

Farasoo Scientific Society

Anil's Women Group

click here to read the statement and view the individual signatures in Persian